Saturday, November 6, 2010

RALEIGH-- Middle blocker Kris Harris had 14 kills and earned Most Valuable Player honors as Apex rolled past Charlotte Providence in three straight sets to earn the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state 4-A volleyball championship on Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum.

Harris, a 6-2 senior, enabled Apex to sprint to a 7-2 lead in the opening set as the Cougars went on to win 25-8. Then Apex scored the first seven points of the second set to win 25-11 and clinched it with a 25-19 victory.

Libero Alston Kearns, who has committed to the University of Tennesssee, had 14 digs for the winners, who won their first NCHSAA volleyball championship and completed a perfect 27-0 season.

Megan Edwards had seven kills and seven digs for Providence, which was in the championship match for the sixth time and was seeking its fifth state title. The Panthers finished at 27-4 overall.